Packers, Ravens clinch NFL playoff berths

Chicago, Illinois

Green Bay and Baltimore secured playoff berths and the Dallas Cowboys boosted their post-season chances with a 27-24 overtime victory over Pittsburgh on "Showdown Sunday" in the National Football League.

Six matchups of NFL clubs with winning records prompted the extra attention to the third-to-last week of the season.

Never before had so many games between teams with winning records been staged on the same day so late in a campaign.

Atlanta and Houston, each 12-2, kept their edge in the chase for home-field playoff advantage while Green Bay beat Chicago 21-13 to clinch the NFC North division title and Baltimore sealed a playoff spot when Dallas beat Pittsburgh.

Brandon Carr intercepted a pass from Pittsburgh's Ben Roethlisberger in overtime and returned it just short of the goalline to set up Dan Bailey's game-winning 21-yard field goal for Dallas.

"I just broke for the ball and waited for it to come my way," Carr said. "I saw it clear as day. I jumped for the ball, went with my instincts and got it."

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Dallas defensive tackle Josh Brent, charged with drink driving manslaughter in the car crash that killed teammate Jerry Brown, was on the sidelines for the Cowboys although not in uniform.